STANDING TALL: Shaun Grenfell had a day out against CYMS on Saturday, hitting 84 not out and claiming four wickets. Photo: JUDE KEOGH 0105riawcrick3
SHAUN Grenfell may have resembled a “beetroot” at the end of Saturday’s clash with CYMS, but the fruits of the Orange City star’s labor helped guided the Warriors to their best win of the 2012-13 summer thus far.
Grenfell hammered an unbeaten 84 in his side’s innings of 8-163 then went about claiming 4-38 to help bowl CYMS out 25 runs short of their target in the 35th over at Riawena Oval.
It was the most crucial performance of City’s 2012-13 season.
Without key batsman Matt Findlay and then strike bowlers Jono Warren and Adam Brakenridge for the weekend’s match-up with the then top-of-the-table CYMS, City skipper Dave Boundy called on one of his senior guys to stand up.
Grenfell answered his captain’s call, in close to 40 degree heat as well.
“He was pretty knackered (on Saturday) night,” Boundy said.
“It was a big day with the heat we had, he was as close to a beetroot as you’ll see (on Saturday) night.
“With six players out you really want some of your senior guys to stand up and Grenners did that for us (on Saturday). He did a great job.”
Orange City won the toss and batted with opener Adam Cowden hitting 27 before falling to Dean Turner (1-13).
Cowden batted well with Grenfell in a third-wicket stand of 56, and City’s top scorer then put on 62 with Englishman Stuart Naden (23) for the fifth wicket.
Those two partnerships proved the difference.
CYMS, by and large, bowled well, with Chris Novak claiming his second five-wicket haul of the season by adopting the kind of stump-to-stump bowling needed on the traditionally low Riawena Oval deck.
Novak bagged 5-15, hitting the stumps for four of the five wickets.
But with the bat, CYMS just didn’t score runs quickly enough.
Chasing City’s 8-163, CYMS were 2-48 after 20 overs.
It left alot of work for the remaining batsmen and the pressure proved too much, as Grenfell and Andrew Rutledge (4-15) cleaned up.
“It was slow going at drinks and we just kept building the pressure and a few rash shots came and we took our catches,” Boundy said.
“The young guys (James Donato and Charlie Cooper) we brought in to the field were outstanding.”
CYMS captain Dave Neil said while his side tried hard in the heat, the magnitude of the task at hand became too much at the death.
“I thought we went reasonably well with the ball. Chris Novak led from the front and bowled well to get five,” Neil said.
“Dropping Grenfell twice didn’t help us but limiting them to 160 was still a decent effort and left an achievable target.
“But, needing just four an over on a flat track and with a quick outfield, we got bogged down and didn’t adapt to the urgency of the scenario.
“It’s a disappointing result but we’ll regroup and look to bounce back against Cavaliers next round.”
